Our best friends back in Cincinnati are from Venezuela. They have cooked for us in their home and it was very good. We wanted that food again and on Friday night and we discovered Arepitas.

If you want a home cooked meal in a restaurant setting, get in your car and drive to Round Rock for authentic Venezuelan cooking. You will not be disappointed.

We asked our waiter Radames what he would recommend we try on our first visit and he steered us toward three dishes.

We started with Shrimp Tostones, which featured green plantain chips stacked with mixed cabbage salad, white shredded cheese, avocado, cilantro and a special sauce. Topped with grilled shrimp. Fantastic mix of flavors. Nice and light.

Next we tried one of the seven Arepas choices on the menu. Ours had shredded beef, black beans, sweet plantains and fresh cheese. We added more avocado. The portion size was very generous and again the mix of flavors was wonderful.

To finish off the meal I would highly recommend the Cachapa Pernil. Another Venezuelan street food dish similar to Arepas.

Holly Hollis, from the Atlantic Journal Constitution, helps us Americans understand the difference.

"Similar in concept to the arepa, but very different in execution, cachapas are another Venezuelan street food based on a flat, pancake-like quick bread. While the cachapa also is gluten-free, it’s more like sweet cornbread, or a johnnycake, than an arepa, which is reminiscent of an English muffin."

I agree with her description, and your tummy will thank you for trying it. The pork in the dish melts in your mouth mixing with the fresh cilantro, cheese and Venezuelan cream (nata). The "pancakes" were perfectly executed.

These are just three of the choices on an extensive menu. Plus you can add on so many extras to create a flavor profile tailored to your own palate. Vegetarians will find many dishes to eat as well.

There are native cocktails to pair with your meal and desserts if you still have room.

Another great choice for the Austin area of authentic cuisine from outside our borders. Meals priced moderately. Service is excellent.